Dorothy FarrarRS virus infection
Children often catch colds, especially during the autumn and winter months. However, if the sick child complains of shortness of breath or if the parents notice significant exhaustion, an RS virus infection can no longer be ruled out. For this reason, when the first signs of such an infection appear, a pediatrician should be consulted.
What is RS virus infection?
The RS virus – respiratory syncytial virus – occurs mainly in babies and small children. The virus is spread by smear or droplet infection and can trigger respiratory and cold symptoms. These complaints are mainly expressed by a runny nose, coughing and a very high fever. The virus sometimes spreads to the child’s bronchi, resulting in bronchitis and pneumonia as the disease progresses .
In some cases, bronchiolitis occurs . With bronchiolitis, the mucous membranes of the bronchi swell, so that the child is affected by massive respiratory problems. Another sign of shortness of breath is shallow and very rapid breathing. Blue discoloration of the fingernails and lips can also be observed due to insufficient oxygen saturation.
RS virus infection occurs predominantly during the winter months; the risk of such an infection is also increased in spring. Older children or even adults can also be infected with the RS virus; However, the symptoms are significantly less and – compared to small children and babies – less pronounced.
causes
As the name suggests, the RS virus infection is caused by viruses. Those spread mainly between the months of September/October to March/April. The virus is transmitted by droplet or smear infection. The risk of infection is very high. The problem with RS virus infection is that the first signs of the disease appear relatively late. This means that anyone who comes into contact with a baby or young child can sometimes become an unknowing carrier of RS virus infection.There can sometimes be two or even eight to ten days between infection with the RS virus and the actual outbreak. Since babies and children in particular have a weakened immune system or are more susceptible to illnesses after a cold, they are among the risk groups.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of RS virus infection:
- rapid breathing
The RS virus infection is mainly noticeable by a cold, high fever and severe cough. In the further course, breathing difficulties or shortness of breath as well as pathological breathing noises and a blue discoloration of the mucous membranes, fingernails and lips (cyanosis) occur. The RS virus is particularly dangerous for babies and young children. For this reason, if parents notice their child has a runny nose, which is sometimes consistent with breathing problems, they should see their pediatrician immediately.
Especially if the sick child drinks little or seems particularly exhausted. As the disease progresses, other infections appear (bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiolitis), which are caused by bacteria and even endanger the life of the sick child. Using a gastric tube , it is possible that dehydration (the child dries out) can be prevented. The sick child can also be supplied with the necessary nutrients with the gastric tube.
Diagnose
The diagnosis is made by a blood test . If an RS virus infection is present, it must be checked to what extent the airways are restricted. If breathing is severely impaired, the child must be admitted to a hospital. As part of the inpatient admission, the child’s breathing is constantly monitored.
treatment and therapy
The child’s symptoms are primarily treated. If there is a weak form of the RS virus infection or if there are no severe symptoms, the doctor administers medication that expands the bronchi. Medicines are also given to liquefy the mucus that has already collected in the airways. A nasal spray can also help to relieve the symptoms – in the form of a runny nose or impaired breathing.
Another option is to inhale with a saline solution. However, care must be taken with babies or young children; inhalation may only take place under supervision. The child has to drink a lot of fluids during the illness. A completely flat storage must be avoided; the child should therefore have a pillow in the back area so that it does not sleep flat.Babies who are less than six months old are usually admitted to the hospital as inpatients. This is because here – due to the pronounced symptoms – permanent monitoring must be carried out. In the hospital, the sick receive oxygen and, in an emergency, can also be artificially ventilated. Antibiotics are only prescribed if other infections (caused by bacteria) have occurred. The RS virus, on the other hand, is resistant to any form of antibiotics, since antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infectious diseases.
prevention
Vaccination against the RS virus is only available for those children who belong to special risk groups. For cost reasons, the vaccine is not available to the entire population. Vaccination must be repeated monthly; the cost of such immunization is very high. It is important that – so that the RS virus infection can be prevented – great importance is attached to hygiene (hand washing, etc.).
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.